The space and solar radiation argument makes sense. One of the main reasons ISS orbit was set to 52 degrees is not to expose the crew onboard the station to radiation over weak magnetic field in polar regions ; The orbit altitude also, never goes over 250 miles closer to radioactive particles trapped in Van Allen belt. Van Allen belt was discovered in 50s, was mostly unknown in "69, over past years only more probes were sent and found all kind of particles and antimatter trapped inside.
Btw, the lunar landing place was declared "Non Flying zone" ;hmm, fishy
live stream;
http://www.n2yo.com/space-station/I read about airline crewmembers being classified as "radiation workers", and take higher dose on polar routes.
NASA about polar routes flight;
"While one or two flights will not exposure passengers and crew to lethal doses of radiation, multiple flights definitely pose an additional health risk, Mertens says.
"The average commercial airline pilot receives more radiation exposure than a fuel-cycle worker in a nuclear power plant," he says.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/science/polar-radiation.html